Abu'l Abbas al-Hijazi (Arabic: أبوالعباس الحجازي), was a 12th-century Arab[1] Muslim traveler, merchant and sailor and is known to have spent forty years in China.[1] His seven sons whom he positioned in seven different commercial centers from his base in Yemen, enhanced his trading business by sending goods from foreign markets.[1] He had lost 10 ships in the Indian Ocean but recovered his fortunes when his 11th ship safely arrived from China which carried porcelain and aloewood.[2][3]